Ben Herd / Ben Herd / 03 February 2010 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet View Market

Struggling Grimsby Town are hoping that a midfield loanee can help them pull away from trouble. Ben Herd chatted to him after a dramatic encounter at the Recreation Ground.

"I've suffered two major knee injuries since joining Charlton which have restricted me massively. I'm a victim of circumstance; the injuries have denied me opportunities to establish myself... "

Thankfully, we played for the second consecutive Saturday against Grimsby. Grimsby are really struggling this season and find themselves in the bottom two but we knew it was going to be a tough game.

In the first half, we were absolutely diabolical and I don't think we strung two passes together. We couldn't get a foot-hold in the game after going behind to an early own goal. The second half saw a much improved performance, but it took some stern words from the manager to get a reaction from us at half-time.

We equalised through Danny Hylton's volley but were then very fortunate not to lose the game to a missed Grimsby penalty late on. After all that excitement, I managed to grab a word with Grimsby's new loan signing, Dean Sinclair. Dean is on loan from parent club Charlton and has suffered horrendous bad luck with injuries, which has stalled his career. Here's what he had to say to betting.betfair.

What did you make of the game?

We started off really brightly and didn't give Aldershot a chance to get into the game. The manager brought in a few new faces on Friday, including myself, and I suppose it gave us a bit more energy and freshness. After going a goal up, it gave us even more to hold onto and I thought we were well worth our lead at half-time. I don't know what your manager said to you lot at half time, but you came out a completely different team. You changed formation after the break and we found it difficult to handle, especially adding another striker upfront. When we got the penalty in the last five minutes, I really thought we were going to win for the first time in 18 games, but unfortunately we missed, so in that respect we were unlucky. Over all, a draw was probably a fair result.

Just how hard a task is it to keep Grimsby in the league? Why did you choose to throw yourself into a relegation battle?

Well, we are five points from safety at the moment and haven't won for something like 19 games, but the manager has made some good signings recently and we have 20 games to go, so I am very confident. I think as a team we have to look shorter term as far as games go, we literally need to take one game at a time. Because of the position that we are in, we can adopt a different mindset of having nothing to lose so we can really go for it in games. As far as coming to Grimsby on loan, I was here last year so I know a few of the lads and enjoyed my time here. I wasn't getting a sniff at Charlton and I need to play games because I am on a free in the summer.

You signed for Charlton a few years back and what must have seemed a dream move at the time. Things haven't exactly gone to plan, how disappointing is that?

Charlton brought me from Barnet after I had done well in League 2, so you're right, it was a dream move. However, I have suffered two major knee injuries since I joined Charlton which have restricted me massively. I am a bit of a victim of circumstance; obviously the injuries have denied me opportunities to establish myself and, at big club like Charlton, they just bring somebody else in who can play straight away. So I suppose when you are injured, you are more easily forgotten and once fit you are down the pecking order.

What targets do you have for the next couple of years?

Short term is to play as many games for Grimsby in keeping them up this season. But like any player, I want to play at the highest level possible. As I mentioned, I am on a free in the summer, so I will probably have to wait and see which club comes in for me. If I sign for Grimsby, then I want to lead them into League 1, and then push on to the Championship.

Football

Favourite Premier League Player? Andrei Arshavin
Favourite player outside the Premier League? Lionel Messi - only after you Herdy
Manager you'd most like to work under? Arsene Wenger
Club you'd most like to play for? Arsenal

Best mate in Football? Damien Batt
Messiest eater? Kelly Youga
Biggest ladies man? Lloyd Sam/Deon Burton
Worse Dressed team-mate? Matthew Spring

Non-football

Dream date? Megan Fox
Favourite TV programme? The X Factor
Favourite shop? Choice
Worst vice? Biting my nails
Biggest pet hate? Players giving it large on the pitch!

50/50

Chinese or Curry? Chinese
BMW or Audi? BMW
Pro Evo or Fifa? Fifa
Michael Buble or Akon? Akon

Tags: Aldershot Town, Ben Herd, Ben's Banter, Grimsby Town, League Two Football Betting Odds